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FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival begins in Baku
The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival has officially commenced in Baku, Azerbaijan. The opening ceremony at the Baku Crystal Hall was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The tournament features 189 national associations and utilizes an innovative format consisting of 8-a-side matches played on smaller pitches. Approximately 1,000 matches are scheduled to take place through October 30, with major matches held at the Baku Crystal Hall and the Hovsan Sports Complex.
Early tournament results show diverse performances across groups. Azerbaijan opened with a 6-0 victory over Timor-Leste, while Bolivia leads Group V after wins against Tahiti and Seychelles. Ghana has demonstrated strong form with victories over Uzbekistan and Myanmar, and South Africa secured a 13-1 win against Anguilla. Conversely, São Tomé e Príncipe has struggled, suffering heavy defeats against Namibia, Poland, and Bermuda.
Entities
Arsène Wenger · Azerbaijan · Baku · Crystal Hall · FIFA · Famil Khalilov · Gianni Infantino · Hovsan Competition Complex · Ilham Aliyev · Samir Sharifov